Release Handle For Recliner Mechanism Of Vehicle Seat

ABSTRACT

A vehicle-seat-recliner assembly may include first and second recliner hearts, a release handle, a cross-member, a handle pin, a handle-travel-limiter, and a reinforcement member. The release handle is connected with the first recliner heart and is rotatable relative to the brackets to move the first recliner heart between locked and unlocked states. The cross-member is connected to the recliner hearts and transmits torque from the release handle to the second recliner heart to move the recliner hearts between the locked and unlocked states. The handle pin engages the release handle. The handle-travel-limiter may include a flange portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion may include an aperture configured to receive the cross-member. The flange portion extends radially outward from the shaft portion. The handle pin engages the handle-travel-limiter. The reinforcement member may be fixed to the handle-travel-limiter and the handle pin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/893,895, filed on Aug. 30, 2019. The entire disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a release handle for a reclinermechanism of a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

Many vehicles include seats with manually operated recliner mechanisms.Often, a release handle is provided to unlock the recliner mechanism toallow adjustment of the seat between upright and reclined positions. Aninterface between the release handle and the rest of the reclinermechanism can be a failure mode and/or a source of buzz-squeak-rattle(BSR). For example, intended and/or unintended forces applied to therelease handle by a user can cause damage to the release handle, therecliner mechanism, and/or the interface between the release handle andthe rest of the recliner mechanism. The present disclosure provides avehicle-seat-recliner assembly that is able to withstand higher loadsand reduces or eliminates BSR.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In one form, the present disclosure provides a vehicle-seat-reclinerassembly that may include first and second recliner hearts, a releasehandle, a cross-member, a handle pin, a handle-travel-limiter, and areinforcement member. The first and second recliner hearts are mountedto first and second brackets, respectively. The release handle isdrivingly connected with the first recliner heart and is rotatablerelative to the first and second brackets to move the first reclinerheart between a locked state and an unlocked state. The cross-member isconnected to the first and second recliner hearts and transmits torquefrom the release handle to the second recliner heart to move the secondrecliner heart with the first recliner heart between the locked andunlocked states. The handle pin engages the release handle. Thehandle-travel-limiter may include a flange portion and a shaft portion.The shaft portion may include an aperture configured to receive thecross-member. The flange portion may extend radially outward from theshaft portion. The handle pin may be fixedly engaged with thehandle-travel-limiter. The reinforcement member may be fixed to thehandle-travel-limiter and the handle pin.

In some configurations of the assembly of the above paragraph, thereinforcement member is embedded within the handle-travel-limiter.

In some configurations of the assembly of either of the aboveparagraphs, the reinforcement member includes an aperture that fixedlyreceives a first end of the handle pin.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the handle-travel-limiter is formed from a first material, and thereinforcement member is formed from a second material that is differentfrom the first material.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the handle-travel-limiter is molded over at least a portion of thereinforcement member.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the first material is a polymeric material, and the second material is ametallic material.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs, asecond end of the handle pin includes a plurality of splines and isreceived within an aperture in the release handle.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the first end of the handle pin includes a plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending protrusions. The aperture in the reinforcementmember may include a plurality of radially outwardly extending cutoutsthat each receive a respective one of the protrusions.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the first end of the handle pin includes another plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending protrusions that are at least partially embedded inthe handle-travel-lim iter.

In some configurations, the assembly of any of the above paragraphsincludes a spring that rotationally biases the release handle toward aposition corresponding to the locked state.

In some configurations of the assembly of any of the above paragraphs,the handle-travel-limiter may include a pair of tabs that engage thespring.

In some configurations, the assembly of any of the above paragraphsincludes a handle-travel bracket fixed relative to the first bracket andincluding an aperture through which the cross-member extends and aflange portion that interferes with the flange portion of thehandle-travel-limiter to limit an amount of rotational travel of therelease handle relative to the first bracket.

In another form, the present disclosure provides a method of assemblinga vehicle-seat-recliner assembly. The method may include: providing ahandle pin including a first end having a plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending protrusions and a second end having a plurality ofsplines; providing a reinforcement member including an aperture having aplurality of radially outwardly extending cutouts; inserting the firstend of the handle pin in the aperture of the reinforcement member suchthat each of the protrusions is received in a respective one of thecutouts; fixing the handle pin relative to the reinforcement memberafter inserting the first end of the handle pin in the aperture of thereinforcement member; molding a handle-travel-limiter over at least aportion of the reinforcement member after fixing the handle pin relativeto the reinforcement member such that the reinforcement member isembedded in a flange portion of the handle-travel-limiter; inserting across-member into a shaft portion of the handle-travel-limiter; andattaching a release handle to a second end of the handle pin. Thecross-member is connected to first and second recliner hearts and isoperable to transmit torque from the release handle to the secondrecliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the first reclinerheart between locked and unlocked states.

In some configurations of the method of the above paragraph, thehandle-travel-limiter is formed from a first material, and thereinforcement member is formed from a second material that is differentfrom the first material.

In some configurations of the method of the above paragraph, the firstmaterial is a polymeric material, and the second material is a metallicmaterial.

In some configurations of the method of any of the above paragraphs, asecond end of the handle pin includes a plurality of splines and isreceived within an aperture in the release handle.

In some configurations, the method of any of the above paragraphsincludes providing a spring that rotationally biases the release handletoward a position corresponding to the locked state.

In some configurations of the method of any of the above paragraphs, thehandle-travel-limiter includes a pair of tabs that engage the spring.

In some configurations, the method of any of the above paragraphsincludes providing a handle-travel bracket fixed relative to the firstrecliner heart and including an aperture through which the cross-memberextends and a flange portion that interferes with the flange portion ofthe handle-travel-limiter to limit an amount of rotational travel of therelease handle.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly having arecliner assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the recliner assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recliner assembly with a releasehandle removed;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a recliner heart of the reclinerassembly;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the recliner assembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcement member and a handle pinof the recliner assembly;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the reinforcement member andhandle pin;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handle pin and ahandle-travel-limiter with the reinforcement member embedded within thehandle-travel-limiter; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the handle-travel-limiter and the handle pin.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a recliner assembly 10 is provided thatmay be incorporated into a vehicle seat assembly 11 having a seatbackframe 22 and a seat bottom frame 24. The seat assembly 11 may bepositioned in a vehicle. The recliner assembly 10 may include a firstrecliner heart (e.g., a round recliner mechanism) 12, a second reclinerheart (e.g., a round recliner mechanism) 13, a cross-member 14, arelease handle 16 (i.e., a manually operated hand lever), a handle pin17, a handle-travel-limiter 18, a reinforcement member 19, ahandle-travel bracket 20, and a spring 21.

The first and second recliner hearts 12, 13 may be operable in a lockedstate preventing relative rotation between the seatback frame 22 and theseat bottom frame 24 and an unlocked state permitting relative rotationbetween the seatback frame 22 and the seat bottom frame 24 between anupright position and a rearward-reclined position. In someconfigurations, the first and second recliner hearts 12, 13 allow theseatback frame 22 to move to a forward dump position when in theunlocked state. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the recliner hearts12, 13 may be attached to a first bracket 30 and a second bracket 32.The first bracket 30 may be fixedly attached (e.g., by fasteners and/orwelding) to the seat bottom frame 24. The second bracket 32 may befixedly attached (e.g., by fasteners and/or welding) to the seatbackframe 22.

The first and second recliner hearts 12, 13 can be any suitable type ofrecliner mechanism. For example, the recliner hearts 12, 13 could besimilar or identical to the recliner hearts disclosed in Applicant'scommonly owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0056819, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Thefirst and second recliner hearts 12, 13 may be similar or identical toeach other, and therefore, the following description of the firstrecliner heart 12 is also applicable to the second recliner heart 13.

The first recliner heart 12 may include a guide plate 38 (FIG. 2), aratchet plate 45 (FIG. 4), a cam 52 (FIG. 4), a plurality of pawls 54(FIG. 4), a connector disk 56 (FIG. 4), a plurality of coil springs 58(FIG. 4), a control ring (not shown), and an encapsulation ring 64(FIGS. 2 and 4). The recliner hearts 12, 13 are operable, in a lockedstate, to lock the recliner assembly 10 to prevent relative rotationbetween the seatback frame 22 and the seat bottom frame 24. The reclinerhearts 12, 13 are operable, in an unlocked state, to unlock the reclinerassembly 10 to allow relative rotation between the seatback frame 22 andseat bottom frame 24.

The guide plate 38 may be fixedly mounted to the first bracket 30. Theguide plate 38 may be a generally round disk with a central aperture 39(FIG. 2) and a plurality of bosses 43 (FIG. 4). Each of the pawls 54 isslidably received between corresponding adjacent bosses 43.

The ratchet plate 45 may be a generally round disk and may include acentral aperture and a cylindrical recess. A plurality of teeth 69 (FIG.4) may be formed on an inner diametrical wall defining the cylindricalrecess of the ratchet plate 45. The second bracket 32 may be weldedand/or otherwise suitably fixed to the seatback frame 22 and the ratchetplate 45 to attach the ratchet plate 45 to the seatback frame 22. Theratchet plate 45 may be mounted to the guide plate 38 such that thecylindrical recess of the ratchet plate 45 is substantially concentricwith outer radii of the bosses 43. The encapsulation ring 64 may have aU-shaped cross-section and may be disposed generally around the outerperipheries of the ratchet plate 45 and the guide plate 38 to rotatablycouple the ratchet plate 45 to the guide plate 38.

The pawls 54 may be arranged around the central aperture 39 on the guideplate 38 such that each pawl 54 is slidably disposed between respectiveadjacent bosses 43, as shown in FIG. 4. An edge of each pawl 54 mayinclude a plurality of teeth 57 configured to meshingly engage the teeth69 of the ratchet plate 45. Each pawl 54 may also include a latch 71 atan end opposite the teeth 57.

The cam 52 may be a generally round disk having an aperture 59 and aplurality of radial latch protrusions 61 arranged around the aperture59. The cam 52 is rotatable relative to the pawls 54 and the ratchetplate 45 such that the latch protrusions 61 can selectively engage thelatches 71 of the pawls 54 to move the pawls 54 radially inward and outof engagement with the teeth 69 of the ratchet plate 45 (i.e., into theunlocked state).

The connector disk 56 may be rotatably fixed to the cam 52 and thehandle-travel-limiter 18 (which is rotationally fixed to thecross-member 14), thereby rotationally fixing the cam 52 relative to thecross-member 14 and the release handle 16. In this manner, rotation ofthe release handle 16 causes corresponding rotation of the cam 52, whichmoves the recliner hearts 12, 13 between the locked and unlocked states.As shown in FIG. 4, the connector disk 56 may include a plurality offlanges that are each engaged with a corresponding one of the coilsprings 58. The coil springs 58 rotationally biases connector disk 56and the cam 52 in a manner that causes the latch protrusions 61 to forcethe pawls 54 radially outwardly into the locked state, whereby the teeth57 of the pawls 54 engage the teeth 69 of the ratchet plate 45.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the handle pin 17 may include a first end 70having a plurality of radially outwardly extending first protrusions 72and a plurality of radially outwardly extending second protrusions 74(FIGS. 5 and 7). The second protrusions 74 may be disposed at a distalend of the first end 70. The first protrusions 72 may be disposedaxially between the second protrusions 74 and a second end 76 of thehandle pin 17. The first protrusions 72 may extend radially outwardfarther than the second protrusions 74.

The second end 76 of the handle pin 17 may include a plurality ofsplines 78 that are received within a similarly shaped aperture 80(FIG. 1) in the release handle 16. In this manner, the splines 78rotationally fix the release handle 16 to the handle pin 17. The handlepin 17 may also include a groove 82 that extends circumferentiallyaround at least a portion of the diameter of the handle pin 17 (i.e.,perpendicular to the splines 78). A retainer clip 84 (FIG. 5) may befixed to the release handle 16 and may snap into the groove 82 toaxially retain the release handle 16 on the handle pin 17. The handlepin 17 may be formed from a metallic material (e.g., steel).

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the reinforcement member 19 may be a generallyflat member having a main body portion 86 and a pair of flanges 88extending outwardly from the main body portion 86. The main body portion86 may include a central aperture 90 including radially outwardlyextending cutouts 92 (FIG. 5). The cutouts 92 correspond in shape andsize with the second protrusions 74 of the handle pin 17 such that thesecond protrusions 74 can be received through the cutouts 92. Duringassembly of the handle pin 17 to reinforcement member 19, the distal endof the first end 70 of the handle pin 17 can be press fit into theaperture 90 and staked or deformed (and/or welded) to the main bodyportion 86 of the reinforcement member 19 to fix the handle pin 17relative to the reinforcement member 19. The main body portion 86 mayalso include a plurality of apertures 94 arranged around the centralaperture 90. When the handle pin 17 is fixed to the reinforcement member19, the first protrusions 72 may abut the main body portion 86 of thereinforcement member 19 and each of the first protrusions 72 may bedisposed between respective adjacent apertures 94, as shown in FIG. 6.The reinforcement member is formed from a metallic material, forexample.

The handle-travel-limiter 18 may be formed from a polymeric material,for example. As shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 9, the handle-travel-limiter 18may include a shaft portion 96 and a flange portion 98 that extendsradially outwardly from the shaft portion 96. In some configurations,the flange portion 98 is molded over the reinforcement member 19 suchthat the reinforcement member 19 is at least partially embedded withinthe handle-travel-limiter 18 (FIG. 8). In some configurations, theflange portion 98 is also molded over the first protrusions 72 of thehandle pin 17 such that the first protrusions 72 are also at leastpartially embedded within the handle-travel-limiter 18 (FIGS. 3 and 9).

The flange portion 98 of the handle-travel-limiter 18 may include a pairof flanges 100 that form a generally bow-tie shape. The flanges 100 maysurround the flanges 88 of the reinforcement member 19. That is, theflanges 88 may extend into the flanges 100. When thehandle-travel-limiter 18 is molded over the reinforcement member 19, thepolymeric material of the handle-travel-limiter 18 flows around andthrough the various protrusions 102 and cutouts 104 (FIGS. 5 and 8)defining the outer periphery of the reinforcement member 19, therebystrengthening the engagement with the reinforcement member 19 andlocking the handle-travel-limiter 18 to the reinforcement member 19.Furthermore, when the handle-travel-limiter 18 is molded over thereinforcement member 19, the polymeric material of thehandle-travel-limiter 18 flows through the apertures 94 of thereinforcement member 19 and around the first protrusions 72 of thehandle pin 17, which also strengthens the engagement among thehandle-travel-limiter 18, the reinforcement member 19 and the handle pin17 and locks the handle-travel-limiter 18, the reinforcement member 19and the handle pin 17 to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the flange portion 98 of thehandle-travel-limiter 18 may also include a pair of tabs 106 that engagethe spring 21. As shown in FIG. 3, one end 108 of the spring 21 may behooked onto one of the tabs 106. Another end 110 of the spring 21 may behooked onto a pin 112 that may be fixed to the first bracket 30.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shaft portion 96 of the handle-travel-limiter 18may protrude from a central portion of the flange portion 98. The shaftportion 96 may include a plurality of protrusions 114 arranged around anouter diametrical surface of the shaft portion 96. As shown in FIG. 4,the protrusions 114 may be received in corresponding keyways 116 in theconnector disk 56 to rotationally fix the handle-travel-limiter 18 tothe connector disk 56 and the cam 52. As shown in FIG. 8, the shaftportion 96 may also include a central aperture 118 that extends axiallythrough a distal end of the shaft portion 96. The central aperture 118may be sized and shaped to receive a portion of the cross-member 14. Inthe particular example shown in the figures, the cross-member 14 has arectangular or square profile that fits within a rectangular or squareprofile of the central aperture 118 of the handle-travel-limiter 18(shown in FIG. 4). The shaft portion 96 may extend through the firstrecliner heart 12, and a retainer 115 (FIG. 2) fixed to the reclinerheart 12 may engage a groove 117 on the shaft portion 96 to axiallysecure the handle-travel-limiter 18 on the cross-member 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the handle-travel bracket 20 may include a generallycircular main body portion 120 and a pair of flanges (or flangeportions) 122. The handle-travel bracket 20 may be fixedly attached(e.g., via welding) to the guide plate 38. The main body portion 120 mayinclude a central aperture 124 through which the cross-member 14extends. The flanges 122 extend radially outward from the main bodyportion 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the flanges 100 of thehandle-travel-limiter 18 may be disposed between the flanges 122 of thehandle-travel bracket 20. Interference between the flanges 122 and theflanges 100 limits the amount of rotational travel of thehandle-travel-limiter 18 (and thus, the release handle 16) relative tothe handle-travel bracket 20 and the guide plate 38. FIG. 3 shows afirst one of the flanges 100 abutting a first one of the flanges 122 andspaced apart from a second one of the flanges 122. The rotationaldistance shown in FIG. 3 between the first one of the flanges 100 andthe second one of the flanges 122 defines the extent of the rotationaltravel of the handle-travel-limiter 18 (and release handle 16) relativeto the handle-travel bracket 20 (and guide plate 38).

The recliner assembly 10 of the present disclosure has severaladvantages over prior-art recliner assemblies. For example, thereinforcement member 19 increases the strength of the interface betweenthe release handle 16 and the handle-travel-limiter 18. That is, thereinforcement member 19 increases the stiffness of thehandle-travel-limiter 18. Forming the reinforcement member 19 from ametallic material further improves the strength and stiffness, whileminimally affecting the overall weight of the recliner assembly 10.

Molding the handle-travel limiter 18 over the reinforcement member andthe first end 70 of the handle pin 17 improves the engagement betweenthe handle-travel-limiter 18 and the reinforcement member 19 andimproves the engagement between the handle-travel-limiter 18 and thehandle pin 17. Over-molding the handle-travel-limiter 18 from apolymeric material reduces or eliminates the buzz-squeak-rattle (BSR)that often result from metal-on-metal interfaces. The shape of thereinforcement member 19 (e.g., the apertures 94, protrusions 102 andcutouts 104) helps to lock the reinforcement member 19 within thehandle-travel-limiter 18.

By forming the handle pin 17 and reinforcement member 19 from metallicmaterials, the recliner assembly 10 is able to withstand higher loadsdue to forces applied to the release handle 16 by a user. For example,FIG. 1 shows forces F1, F2, F3, F4 in various directions that a user mayapply to the release handle 16 during intended uses and unintended usesof the release handle 16. The metallic materials of the handle pin 17and reinforcement member 19 and the improved engagement between thehandle pin 17 and the reinforcement member 19 allows the reclinerassembly 10 to better withstand high loads in the directions of forcesF1, F2, F3, F4 as well as forces in other directions.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle-seat-recliner assembly comprising: afirst recliner heart mounted to a first bracket; a second recliner heartmounted to a second bracket; a release handle drivingly connected withthe first recliner heart and rotatable relative to the first and secondbrackets to move the first recliner heart between a locked state and anunlocked state; a cross-member connected to the first and secondrecliner hearts and transmitting torque from the release handle to thesecond recliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the firstrecliner heart between the locked and unlocked states; a handle pinengaging the release handle; a handle-travel-limiter including a flangeportion and a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion includes anaperture configured to receive the cross-member, wherein the flangeportion extends radially outward from the shaft portion, and wherein thehandle pin is fixedly engaged with the handle-travel-limiter; and areinforcement member fixed to the handle-travel-limiter and the handlepin.
 2. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 1, wherein thereinforcement member is embedded within the handle-travel-limiter. 3.The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 2, wherein the reinforcementmember includes an aperture that fixedly receives a first end of thehandle pin.
 4. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 3, whereinthe handle-travel-limiter is formed from a first material, and whereinthe reinforcement member is formed from a second material that isdifferent from the first material.
 5. The vehicle-seat-recliner assemblyof claim 4, wherein the handle-travel-limiter is molded over at least aportion of the reinforcement member.
 6. The vehicle-seat-reclinerassembly of claim 5, wherein the first end of the handle pin includes aplurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions, and wherein theaperture in the reinforcement member includes a plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending cutouts that each receive a respective one of theprotrusions.
 7. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 6, whereinthe first end of the handle pin includes another plurality of radiallyoutwardly extending protrusions that are at least partially embedded inthe handle-travel-limiter.
 8. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the first material is a polymeric material, and whereinthe second material is a metallic material.
 9. The vehicle-seat-reclinerassembly of claim 8, wherein a second end of the handle pin includes aplurality of splines and is received within an aperture in the releasehandle.
 10. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a spring that rotationally biases the release handle toward aposition corresponding to the locked state, and wherein thehandle-travel-limiter includes a pair of tabs that engage the spring.11. The vehicle-seat-recliner assembly of claim 1, further comprising ahandle-travel bracket fixed relative to the first bracket and includingan aperture through which the cross-member extends and a flange portionthat interferes with the flange portion of the handle-travel-limiter tolimit an amount of rotational travel of the release handle relative tothe first bracket.
 12. A method of assembling a vehicle-seat-reclinerassembly, the method comprising: providing a handle pin including afirst end having a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusionsand a second end having a plurality of splines; providing areinforcement member including an aperture having a plurality ofradially outwardly extending cutouts; inserting the first end of thehandle pin in the aperture of the reinforcement member such that each ofthe protrusions is received in a respective one of the cutouts; fixingthe handle pin relative to the reinforcement member after inserting thefirst end of the handle pin in the aperture of the reinforcement member;molding a handle-travel-limiter over at least a portion of thereinforcement member after fixing the handle pin relative to thereinforcement member such that the reinforcement member is embedded in aflange portion of the handle-travel-limiter; inserting a cross-memberinto a shaft portion of the handle-travel-limiter; and attaching arelease handle to a second end of the handle pin, wherein thecross-member is connected to first and second recliner hearts and isoperable to transmit torque from the release handle to the secondrecliner heart to move the second recliner heart with the first reclinerheart between a locked state and an unlocked state.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the handle-travel-limiter is formed from a firstmaterial, and wherein the reinforcement member is formed from a secondmaterial that is different from the first material.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the first material is a polymeric material, andwherein the second material is a metallic material.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein a second end of the handle pin includes a plurality ofsplines and is received within an aperture in the release handle. 16.The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing a spring thatrotationally biases the release handle toward a position correspondingto the locked state, and wherein the handle-travel-limiter includes apair of tabs that engage the spring.
 17. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: providing a handle-travel bracket fixed relative to thefirst recliner heart and including an aperture through which thecross-member extends and a flange portion that interferes with theflange portion of the handle-travel-limiter to limit an amount ofrotational travel of the release handle.